Hello Thank you for taking part in the recent engagement exercise and providing us with your views. Following this first round of engagement we wanted to take the opportunity to respond to you quickly with some feedback. Please find below a copy of a press release issued this evening. Consultation on these early stage proposals has just finished, and the council wants to let residents, commuters and local stakeholders know we have listened to feedback received. This initial stage of engagement enabled us to take on board the public’s comments before plans are finalised. We would like to make it clear that the council will not be taking forward the outline designs for Blue House or the proposed banned right turn from Jesmond Dene Road onto Osborne Road. Cllr Ged Bell, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development has said: “The pre-consultation exercise has stimulated a lot of debate about important changes we need to make. We’ve said all along that something needs to be done and the feedback has confirmed that. People have come together to express their concerns and there’s been significant public opposition to our outline designs. “We will now pause these schemes. We’ll be inviting representatives from a number of groups to help us review alternative proposals, while considering all the feedback from the pre-consultation period – before we take forward final proposals.” The council is committed to making changes at Blue House to improve safety, reduce harmful emissions caused by congestion, and better manage traffic flow. The draft plans were informed by economic data and transport modelling, which showed the size and scale of junction required by 2031 if all road users are given protected space to move in all directions, and based on current travel choices. Cllr Bell added: “Alternative approaches to making improvements will require a willingness to work together from all parties. “The current levels of car use in this area of the city, coupled with our need to enable housing developments both in Newcastle and in neighbouring areas, will lead to increased problems on our highways. This will have negative impacts on people’s health and wellbeing unless we work together as a city on how best to manage the movement of people, goods and services around and across Newcastle. “Our priority is to ensure that Newcastle not only has a bright economic future, but is also an aspirational, safe, and healthy place to live and work and we look forward to meeting with stakeholders in the near future to take this discussion forward.” The council will now continue to review all the feedback received, set up a working group that is representative of interested parties, and continue to engage and communicate with residents and stakeholders in bringing forward future plans.